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Saturday, November 14th, 2015, 7:00 AM
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Maranatha, Maranatha,
Come, Oh Lord.
And set us free!
"
In Deo Speramus
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(In God We Hope) |
33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
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Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves,
you know that summer is near.
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First Reading
In those days, I Daniel,
heard this word of the Lord:
"At that time there shall arise
Michael, the great prince,
guardian of your people;
it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress
since nations began until that time.
At that time your people shall escape,
everyone who is found written in the book.
"Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake;
some shall live forever,
others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.
"But the wise shall shine brightly
like the splendor of the firmament,
and those who lead the many to justice
shall be like the stars forever."
The Word of the Lord
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Discussion Questions
1. "But the wise shall shine brightly ... " Can you think of people you have known or known about, who have died and still shine brightly for you? If so, which of their qualities would you like to emulate in your life?
2. Name some people who have led "many to justice" and are now "like stars forever." Are stars used for navigation at times? How can people like Oscar Romero and Martin Luther King show us the way?
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Second Reading
Brothers and sisters:
Every priest stands daily at his ministry,
offering frequently those same sacrifices
that can never take away sins.
But this one offered one sacrifice for sins,
and took his seat forever at the right hand of God;
now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.
For by one offering
he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.
Where there is forgiveness of these,
there is no longer offering for sin.
The Word of the Lord
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Discussion Questions
1. Compare and contrast old covenant priests and their repeated sacrifices with Jesus and his one sacrifice? How do the many celebrations of the Eucharist fit into the one-sacrificial event?
2. Jesus won redemption for us. Does he just hand it to us? What part do we have in it? Does God ask you for sacrifices? How can your sacrifices help anything?
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Alleluia, alleluia
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
Alleluia, alleluia
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Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
"In those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
"And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds'
with great power and glory,
and then he will send out the angels
and gather his elect from the four winds,
from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
"Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves,
you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that he is near, at the gates.
Amen, I say to you,
this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
"But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
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Discussion Questions:
1.
"My words will not pass away." What do you take along with you when you die? Is there any correlation between love and the Word of God that does not pass away? Is there anything you can you do to stretch your capacity to love?
2.
In his homily, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away," Pope Francis discusses our final destination. What does he consider the job of the Church or the People of God while we are here on earth? How are we to be the leaven in humanity?
What is the destination of this People? Our destination is the Kingdom of God, ... full communion with the Lord, familiarity with the Lord, entry into his own divine life, where we will live in the joy of his love beyond measure, a full joy. Dear brothers and sisters, being the Church, to be the People of God, in accordance with the Father's great design of love, means to be the leaven of God in this humanity of ours. It means to proclaim and to bring God's salvation to this world of ours, so often led astray, in need of answers that give courage, hope and new vigor for the journey. May the Church be a place of God's mercy and hope, where all feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live according to the good life of the Gospel. And to make others feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged, the Church must be with doors wide open so that all may enter. And we must go out through these doors and proclaim the Gospel.
Pope Francis,
homily
, November 29, 2013
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Oremus pro invicem
(Let us pray for one another)
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Our
cars will
rust and fall apart,
condos crumble to the ground.
Our fondest dreams will disappoint.
Everything will go.
Investments.
Worries.
Honors.
Pains.
Yet,
you
say to us,
"My words will not
pass away.
Jesus,
please fill us
with your words.
which will never pass away.
You
are love.
Love remains.
Amen
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| For what are we born if not to aid one another? Ernest Hemingway "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then we'll have peace." By: Jimi Hendrix "My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." Abraham Lincoln If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is brought to perfection in us.
1 John 4:12
Deus fit homo ut homo fieret Deus God became human so that humans might become God (Catholicism, Page 2 by Fr. Robert Barron) "The Glory of God is a human being fully alive." Meyers, Robin R. (2009-02-19). Saving Jesus from the Church: How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus (Kindle Location 639). Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
God "dwells in us."
God's love is not meant for us alone;
we must give it away.
Do small things today and for many tomorrows,
with a generous heart.
Give God Away Today!
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Help us then, Lord,
to be so united with the paschal mystery of Jesus,
that through Him the world can become a better place to dwell.
You promise us much for this life
and for our eternal presence with You;
may we live into that promise
each day.
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An interesting thought:
The birth of St. John is celebrated on June 24th, in the moment of the summer solstice. From that point onward, daylight begins to reduce. On the other hand, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated on December 25th, during the winter solstice. From that point onward, daylight begins to grow, to get longer.
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